Events

PRESS RELEASE Nº28/21st AU SUMMIT

1st SYMPOSIUM OF WOMEN AND CHILD RIGHTS IN AFRICA
BY SUDANESE NGO

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 24 May 2013: In line with the African Union Celebrations of the 50th Anniversary, the National Group for Human Rights (NGHR) held a symposium on the third floor, small conference room 3 (new building) from 11:00- 1:00pm at the African Union Commission. The NGHR congratulated the OAU in its 50th Anniversary and commended the efforts of human rights groups in the country and further hoped that in the next 50 years the union and Africa will be developed beyond expectations.
The symposium was carried out in order to stress the need and significance of women and child rights in Africa as a whole and Sudan in particular and also to shed some light on the progress and how far human rights institutions have come in terms of what they have been able to achieve in the areas concerning women and children.
Speaking at the symposium, Dr Mustapha who is a consultant, women and child defender and paediatrician at the University of Khartoum and other universities called for “a united, safe and developed Africa in the coming years” and added that improvement of the welfare of women and children is necessary for development. Dr Mustapha also added that the protection of all human beings is important, but the protection and promotion of women and children’s rights should be at the forefront. She called for equal rights everywhere and the prevention of slave trade and child slavery.
According to the Dr, Sudanese women are among the pioneers in Africa in their enjoyment of independent personality from men, in their empowerment in owning properties, conducting businesses and issuing all relevant decisions concerning their lives and they are among the few in Africa as far back as the fifties to enjoy voting rights in elections in the first free election after independence.
In her statement she added that at the African regional level, Sudan is a party to the African Union constitutive Act which was adopted in the year 2000 at the Lome summit in Togo and entered into force in 2001.
Also speaking at the symposium, Mrs Gamar Habani of the Faculty of Law at the University of Khartoum and an Advocate and Lawyer spoke on the issue of child rights. She said “The problem of child labour in Africa is still a big issue” and appealed for the end of the use of children as soldiers. She also added that the Child Right Units of the Armed Forces in Sudan aims at protecting children in peace and war settings.
The next symposium will be held on the 26th of May at the same venue.

PRESS RELEASE Nº30/21st AU SUMMIT

Basketball Tournament held to celebrate OAU/AU golden jubilee

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 24th May 2013: As part of the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the African Union Commission (AUC), a basketball tournament was held today at the basketball courts of the AUC. The game was organized by Dr Benjamin, President of the African Union Commission Basketball club. The 1st game kicked off at 15:00.

Although it rained heavily, it did not discourage the teams from playing the game. Three teams took part in the tournament:
 The African Union Team wore a red jersey.
 The Rwanda Team wore a navy blue jersey with white stripe.
 The Burundi Team wore a blue jersey with yellow stripe.

The Burundi and Rwanda teams consisted of players who are students of the Defense University College (DUC) in Debre Zeit, a town lying Southeast of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

Rwanda beat Burundi 18-17in the first game. The 2nd round was between Burundi and the AU team; and Burundi won 41-38. The 3rd and final round was played by Rwanda and the AU team; the AU team won with a score of 33-19.

However at the end of the tournament, everyone was a winner because each team was presented with a trophy. The Tournament ended at 19:30.

African Union Basketball Tournament for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of OAU/AU in Ethiopia the 24th May 2013 at AUC Basketball Complex at 14:00 PM

Addis Ababa, 23 May 2013 - The African Union Basketball Club is organizing a Basketball Tournament for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU on the 24th May 2013 inside the AUC compound at 14:00 PM. The teams that agreed to come and play are Staff from Diplomatic Missions in Addis Ababa, AUC Staff and Students of the University of Debrezeit.

“We do believe that this game is and will be one of the most exciting parts of the sports activities regarding the celebration of the 50th Anniversary so we do not want to pass on it” said the President of the AUCBBC, Dr Benjamin Djoudalbaye (DSA).

The game will symbolize the opening meeting of friendly matches to be organized all along the year 2013-2014 dedicated for the 50th Anniversary to celebrate Pan Africanism and African Renaissance. These basketball teams invited will be displaying their talent and team work as a contribution to the success of this anniversary.

The AUCBBC was created in 2009 with the objectives of playing basketball under the vision of unity, peace and solidarity. Actually the Team is constituted by 25 members form AUC and other Diplomatic Missions in Addis Ababa. The AUCBBC have the training usually every Saturday at 4:00 PM.

Journalists are invited to cover the basketball match

Attached is the draft program

PRESS RELEASE N0. 21/21ST AU SUMMIT

Sudan and Ethiopia gear-up for Commemorative Football Match to Mark OAU/AU 50th Anniversary

23 May 2013, Addis Ababa:On 25 May 2013, 50 years after the founding of the Organization of the African Unity (OAU), the eyes of the continent will once again be focused on the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, to witness a commemorative friendly football match between the hosts, Ethiopia and invited guests, Sudan at the National Stadium.

The significance of selecting the two Nations to battle it out for the commemorative trophy stems from the fact that the two were among the four founding members of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the governing body of African football. The other two founding members are Egypt and South Africa.

Since 2010, the AU and CAF have been using sport as a tool for development and peace across the continent includingthrough the “Make Peace Happen Campaign.” This longstanding partnership was formalized on 14 June 2012, after the two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to use the universal appeal of football as a platform to advocate and promote social change in Africa. Earlier this year, the twoorganizations kicked off activities to commemoratethe OAU/AU 50th Anniversary celebrations during the opening ceremony of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in Johannesburg.

Among the key guests expected to attend the friendly football match are Issa Hayatou, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Kuma Demeksa, Mayor of Addis Ababa, Amin Abdurrahman, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia, Abdisa Yadeta, Ethiopian Commissioner for Sports, Mekonnen Addis, Chairman of the National Organizing Committee of the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU.

Saturday’s friendly football match, which is open to the public, is the flagship sports event for the celebrations among many others lined up across the continent to promote Pan Africanism and African Renaissance. These events also aim to rally the entire continent and diaspora behind a common unifying cause and towards setting a clear agenda for 2063 under the banner: ‘one Africa, for prosperity and peace.’

Press release Nº26/21st AU Summit

Executive Council adopts the Strategic Plan and the 2014 budget of the AU

Addis Ababa, 23rd May 2013 –The Executive Council of the African Union (AU) meeting ahead of the 21st AU Summit adopted on 23rd May 2013 the Strategic Plan of the AU for the period 2014-2017 alongside with the year 2014 budget amounting 380 million USD, announced Mr Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission. Following consultations with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and with the private sector, the Strategic Plan is meant to be inclusive and consultative in a bid to be people driven. It is scheduled to be submitted for adoption to the Heads of States during their 21st Ordinary Summit to be held from 26 to 27 May.

The Strategic Plan is constituted of eight priorities explained Mr Mwencha. It addresses challenges such as peace, stability and governance, growth and transformation, regional integration through the achievement of the Continental Free Trade Area by 2017, innovation, harnessing human and natural resources, mainstreaming women and youth to name but a few. With strong elements of monitoring and evaluation, the Strategic Plan has clear benchmarks so as to be efficiently assessed over the projection horizon.

Since Africa will be celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Organisation of the African Unity (OAU) and the AU in a few days’ time, Mr Mwencha also addressed the future of Africa in the next fifty years. That future should be captured and planned for in Agenda 2063. “It is agreed that, that exercise of preparation must be consultative and participatory. We should reach all Member States and key stakeholders to contribute to this agenda”. Tabled to be ready by May 2014, “the Agenda should drive the process of integration drawn from the legacy and inspiration of the founders of the OAU and be people driven. We are determined to take the AU to people for people to tell us what they want to do”.

To unleash Africa’s potential for 2063 and attain the envisaged change, the AU has established a panel tasked with finding alternative sources of funding for its activities. Led by former President of Nigeria, President Olusegun Obasanjo, the panel will submit a report to the Assembly for consideration and action.

The press briefing was live streamed. With about 400 journalists accredited daily press conferences will be organised and live streamed.

For more information, please visit the African Union website at www.au.int and follow us on twitter (@_AfricanUnion) and Facebook.